1. Convectional Rainfall
*Sudden and heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning
*Caused by cumulus clouds
*Such clouds are formed due to expansion and condensation of hot air which has become light and risen to upper layers of atmosphere on being heated by hot surface of the earth. *Experienced daily in equatorial region
2. Orographic (relief) rainfall
* Caused by condensation and precipitation of moist air mass
that gets cooled when forced to move upwards due to mountain or hill coming in way of moisture laden winds
*Windward side gets more rain compared to leeward side of the mountain.
3. Cyclonic (frontal) rainfall
*Associated with cyclones in tropical regions and depressions in temperate regions.
*In cyclone, when warm and cold air masses meet, the lighter warm air mass overrides the cold air mass. The boundary between two air masses is called front. Condensation takes place in the warm air mass and rainfall occurs along the path of cyclone.
*Common in westerlies, especially during winter season.
(Source: Integrated Social Science, Book 7, CCE Edition, Ratna Sagar)
